Page 101 of Saddle and Bound

The oppressive silence of the waiting room is suddenly and finally broken by the sound of opening doors.

We all look up abruptly, our hearts beating in unison with a mixture of hope and terror. A doctor in a white coat emerges, his expression serious but not grim.

"Family of Rosalie Thorne?" he asks, looking around.

Robert stands up immediately, followed by Maria and Aunt Tina. I remain paralyzed in my chair, unable to move, fearing what we might hear.

"I'm her father," Robert says, his voice trembling. "How is my daughter?"

The doctor takes a deep breath before speaking.

"Miss Thorne is stable at the moment. She suffered a head trauma, but we managed to reduce the intracranial pressure. She's now in a medically induced coma to allow her brain to recover."

A collective sigh of relief fills the room, but the tension doesn't completely dissipate.

"When will she wake up?" I ask, finally finding the strength to stand and approach. The doctor looks at me with understanding eyes.

"It's difficult to say with certainty. It could be a matter of days or... it might take longer. Every case is different."

His words fall heavily upon us.

Rosie is alive, but not out of danger. Relief mingles with a new wave of concern.

"Can we see her?" Maria asks, squeezing Robert's hand.

The doctor nods. "Yes, but only two people at a time and for brief periods. It's important that she remains in a calm environment." Robert and Maria exchange a meaningful look. Then Robert turns to me, his eyes tired but kind.

"Alex," he says softly, "would you like to go in with me?"

The lump in my throat prevents me from speaking. I look at Maria, feeling guilty for taking her place, but she nods encouragingly. "Go," she whispers, "Rosie would want you to be there."

I nod, grateful for their understanding, and follow Robert and the doctor through the hospital corridors. Each step seems to weigh a ton. My heart pounds in my chest, a mix of anxiety and hope. I feel Robert putting an arm around my shoulders and pulling me closer to him. I've always had an excellent professional relationship with him, and sometimes we've even had drinks together.

Lately, however, I've been consumed by my feelings for Rosie and then by the wave of work leading up to the competitions. I suddenly feel guilty for not telling Robert that I intended to get serious with his daughter.

The doctor stops in front of a door and turns to us. "Please remember that the appearance might be shocking at first. There are many machines and tubes, but they're all necessary for her recovery."

With a final encouraging look, he opens the door. The constant beep of the heart monitor fills the room. Rosie lies motionless on the bed, surrounded by machines. A breathing tube extends from her mouth, and various cables are connected to her body. Her skin is pale, almost transparent under the fluorescent lights. I slowly approach the bed, my legs trembling. Robert stays back for a moment, giving me space.

"Rosie," I whisper, gently taking her hand. It's cold to the touch, but I can feel the faint pulse of her heartbeat. "I'm here, princess. We're here for you."

The tears I've been holding back for hours finally begin to flow. I cry silently, holding Rosie's hand as if it were a lifeline.

"Please come back to us," I murmur. "You have so many people who love you, who are waiting for you. I... I'm waiting for you."

I feel a hand on my shoulder. It's Robert, his eyes glistening but determined.

"She's strong," he says hoarsely. "Our Rosie is a fighter. She'll make it."

I nod, unable to speak.

For several minutes, we remain like this: united in silence, in pain, and in hope. The constant beep of the heart monitor is the only sound in the room, a reminder that, despite everything, Rosie is fighting.

Chapter 68

Alex

Twenty-four hours have passed.

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